Stay safe and protect yourself from unplanned pregnancies

CONTRACEPTIVE AWARENESS WEEK starts today and runs until February 14, Valentine’s Day. This year’s theme is looking at unplanned pregnancies in the over 35s.


Fertility in women over the age of 35 years varies hugely and many women become pregnant in their late 30s, 40s and a few even in their 50s. Unplanned pregnancy at an older age can be devastating for individual women and will present them with some very difficult choices.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is urging women over the age of 35 to stay safe and protect themselves from unplanned pregnancies.

Northamptonshire Healthcare operates contraceptive clinics across the county where women and men can get the specialist advice they need to choose a form of contraception that is right for them.

“It is important that you don’t assume that your age automatically makes you infertile and you don’t need to use contraception anymore,” said Dr Jagruti Doshi, consultant in contraceptive and reproductive healthcare with Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. “It does decline as you get older but your fertility still exists. If you don’t want to get pregnant the bottom line is to keep using contraception right up until the menopause.”

“It is important to get the right contraception for you so you can get on with thinking about your life and not just preventing pregnancy.

“What’s best for you will depend upon your personal circumstances and these can change as you age and our clinics provide the specialist advice and services to help women find the contraceptive method that best suits their life and lifestyle.”

Northamptonshire Healthcare offers a free and confidential service offering a full range of contraceptive methods and advice to suit the individual’s needs, including:

• Emergency contraception: can be used if a woman has had sex without using contraception or if the method has not been used correctly

• Combined hormonal pill: often called the “pill” is over 99% effective if used properly

• Combined hormonal patches: if used properly is over 99% effective

• Progestogen only pill: often called the “mini-pill” is 99% effective is used properly

• Contraceptive injections: is given every 12 weeks and is over 99% effective

• Contraceptive implants: work up to 3 years (can be removed sooner) and is over 99% effective

• Intrauterine device: is a plastic and copper device put inside the womb. It can stay in up to 10 years (can be removed sooner) and is over 99% effective

• Intrauterine system: is a progestogen containing device put inside the womb. It works up to 5 years (can be removed sooner) and is over 99% effective

• Male condom: if used properly, 98% effective

• Female condom: if used properly, 95% effective

• Diaphragm: if used properly, 92-96% effective

All of these methods are available at any of the Trust’s contraceptive clinics in Brackley, Corby, Kettering, Northampton, Rushden and Wellingborough.

For further information about contraceptive services in the county, visit www.nht.nhs.uk (our services) or call 01536 493230 (for clinics in the north of the county) or 01604 635838 (for clinics in Northampton and Brackley).